731 Buena Vista Avenue: Gate (www.SocketSite.com)

No real story (and it’s not for sale), we simply loved the craftsmanship and style of the gate (731 Buena Vista Avenue). And it somehow seems ever so San Francisco.

UPDATE (5/5): From one plugged-in reader: “[T]hat once was bobby mcferrin’s house — perhaps it is he who came up with the dough for such a fabulous custom gate.” And from another: “Any info on who built the gate (artist/craftsman)?” Readers?

UPDATE (5/5): Still no word on the artist, but some additional detail on the original patron of the gates: “Yes, that is Graham Nash’s place (long time ago) and i believe it was he who commissioned the gates….After McFarrin moved in he had the gates refurbished. They were taken down and sent somewhere…the neighborhood assumed he removed them and there was a mini uproar.”

UPDATE (10/8/09): From Graham Nash: “Those beautiful gates were commissioned by me in the early ’70’s. The man who built them for us was named E.A.Chase.” Cheers!

20 thoughts on “No Real Story, It Simply Seemed Ever So San Francisco”
  1. I think this gate screams “San Francisco”. I love it.
    everything can’t be an aquaturd loft. (I forget who first used the term aquaturd, so I can’t give credit where it is due)

  2. I have to think that gate has been there since the 70’s anyway. I know it was there in 87 when I moved into the neighborhood. Seems a fantastic summer of love inspired exhurberance (and practical too given what the neighborhood was like then). Reminds me of Grateful Dead posters.

  3. Aquaturd would be me. I’m currently favoring coastal fog/serge with rust to red just lately.
    That gate would be a great entrance for a haunted house on Halloween.

  4. that once was bobby mcferrin’s house — perhaps it is he who came up with the dough for such a fabulous custom gate. that house is right next door to danny glover’s house (or what was danny glover’s house — dunno if it still is).

  5. Vox – love “aquaturd!” My 11 year old uses it to describe clothing, furnishings, you name it. I love that term and the other person who always talks about the karate chopped pillows – I am now obsessed with both when looking at listings on Socketsite!

  6. Yes, that is Graham Nash’s place (long time ago) and i believe it was he who commissioned the gates. If i remember, there was a bathtub on the roof at one time…ah if those walls could talk. I heard this or the neighboring house were painted in garish colors of black, red and yellow back in the glory days of hippy-dom. After McFarrin moved in he had the gates refurbished. They were taken down and sent somewhere…the neighborhood assumed he removed them and there was a mini uproar. They are lovely period pieces.

  7. Thanks for the insight bv.
    I thought so. The gate just dosen’t quite give off the bobby mcferrin vibe and definitely looks like something GN would have beeen into.
    If you get those walls talking, please let me know…..

  8. Those beautiful gates were commissioned by me in the early ’70’s…
    The man who built them for us was named E.A.Chase…
    Graham Nash

    1. Was out front snapping pix just 2 hours ago…spectacular ironwork, and Chase did indeed stamp his name on the lock. What a gift to the homeowners, and all passers’ by. Thank you, Graham. Truly the gift that keeps on giving. I envision the artist being given the gate’s dimensions, a big lovin’ spoonful of acid, and invited to have fun.

  9. Whoever made this is strongly influenced by the works of the spanish architect Gaudi. Apart from his fantasylike buildings, he designed several gates like this and other metalware. In Spain, you will see more of this craftmenship around by the way. Check it out if you like.

  10. The gate on this home was built by former owner, Graham Nash to keep the fans from breaking into his home. The home also belonged to Bobby McFerrin who built an in-home studio. The current owner is James Hormel Jr (of the meat-packing Hormel family).

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